MLB
Rockies decline to pick up option on Morneau
DENVER – The Colorado Rockies have declined a $9 million mutual option on Justin Morneau and bought out the first baseman for $750,000.
Morneau hit .310 with three homers and 15 runs batted in during an injury-plagued season that limited him to 49 games. He was out of the lineup for nearly four months with concussion symptoms after diving for a ground ball during a game in May.
The 34-year-old Morneau captured the NL batting title with Colorado in 2014.
Mattingly a Marlin after managerial switch
MIAMI – Don Mattingly was hired as manager of the Miami Marlins less than a week after he parted with the Dodgers.
Mattingly became owner Jeffrey Loria’s seventh manager since June 2010.
Mattingly, who interviewed for the job Monday, went 446-363 in five years with the Dodgers and won the NL West the past three years. But the Dodgers have not reached the World Series since winning the title in 1988, and they lost to the New York Mets this year in the NL Division Series.
In Miami, Mattingly succeeds Dan Jennings, who made the unusual move from general manager to manager in May.
Padres hire Arizona’s former assistant as manager
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres hired Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach Andy Green as their new manager.
Green takes over a team that underachieved despite general manager A.J. Preller’s offseason roster makeover. The Padres finished 74-88 and fourth in the NL West, 18 games behind the division champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
San Diego has five consecutive losing seasons and have missed the playoffs for nine years.
Green replaces interim manager Pat Murphy, who was fired at season’s end. Murphy took over after Bud Black was fired in mid-June. Black is expected to take over the Washington Nationals managerial position.
Anthopoulos leaving Blue Jays, rejects 5-year offer
TORONTO – Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos left the team, rejecting a five-year contract extension to remain.
The announcement Thursday came as former Cleveland Indians President Mark Shapiro became Toronto’s new president. Shapiro replaced Paul Beeston, who retired.
Anthopoulos acquired MVP candidate Josh Donaldson in the offseason and traded for David Price and Troy Tulowitzki before the deadline to give Toronto its first playoff spot since 1993.
Soccer
FIFA candidate Salman denies role in rights abuse
MANAMA, Bahrain – FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa issued his strongest denial yet against claims he aided human rights abuses after pro-democracy protests.
The Bahraini royal’s entry in the seven-man FIFA contest revived 2011 allegations he chaired a panel which identified national soccer team players and other athletes who were jailed for joining street protests.
Athletes claimed they were tortured by government forces.
Tennis
Sharapova, Radwanska reach semifinals at WTA Finals
SINGAPORE – Maria Sharapova reached the semifinals of the WTA Finals and sent U.S. Open champion Flavia Pennetta into retirement by beating the Italian 7-5, 6-1 on Thursday.
Pennetta was eliminated with the loss and was playing in her last career tournament.
Agnieszka Radwanska also reached the semifinals by beating top-seeded Simona Halep 7-6 (5), 6-1 earlier.
Associated Press
